Rangers vs. Capitals a Quick Preview

So here we go, its playoff time in the NHL and the Rangers fought their way in as the eighth seed after missing out on the playoffs last year. It's an all new season now and the Rangers record versus the Capitals this season, 2-1-1. The Rangers have to be feeling good heading into this series, despite the memory of the 2009 playoff loss to the Caps which saw the Rangers blow a 3-1 series lead. First of all, the Capitals are not exactly a juggernaut despite being the #1 seed in the East. Remember, the Caps lost to the #8 seed Montreal Canadiens in 7 games last year so there is history with the Caps not being able to get it done.

As the Rangers get ready, they know they will be without Ryan Callahan, one of their best young two-way forwards. Losing Callahan definitely hurts but there is enough on this Rangers team to help them overcome. Getting Chris Drury back in the last game, and also watching him get his first goal of the year, was a huge boost. Drury is not the player he once was but he does have a history of stepping things up in the playoffs. While he won't single handedly take over a series, as he did as a member of the Sabres against the Rangers a few years ago, I am willing to bet he elevates his game just enough to play a key role. The Rangers can use his grittiness to replace the loss of Callahan and will be counting on their captain to provide the leadership and determination that Callahan put forth night in and night out.

Speaking of stepping up, perhaps no Ranger needs to elevate their game more than Marian Gaborik. He has not had a very good year so far and his performance in the playoffs could decide his future with the Rangers. Gabby spent a lot of time in Coach John Tortarella's doghouse this season and seemed to go months without finding the back of the net before exploding for bunches at a time. He hasn't scored since March 20th, capping a 4 goal in three games stretch. If the Rangers are going to advance they will need Gaborik to step it up, especially on the power play.

Ahhh, the power play. This is the Rangers Achilles heel, converting on 16.9% of their chances. They acquired Bryan McCabe at the deadline to be the point man on the power play and, although it hasn't shown much in results, the power play got a small boost. The Rangers are going to need to translate the chances into goals, something they have not done well all year. McCabe can only do so much from the point. It is up to the finishers to smack in rebounds and find the holes. The Rangers won't need to all of a sudden convert on 30% of their chances in order to succeed but a small increase on their power play could mean the difference between going on or going home.

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum is the Rangers penalty kill. Ranking 10th overall with a 83.7% kill rate, the Rangers have shown to be effective keeping the puck out of the net. They are also very dangerous when it comes to being short-handed with Brandon Prust leading the way with 5 short-handed goals on the season. Brandon Dubinsky also netted two and with his speed he can take the puck down the ice in the blink of an eye. The Rangers will need to be effective on the penalty kill (just like every team in the playoffs) if they are going to advance.

Perhaps nothing can do a team in, or boost a team more, than the play of their goaltender. Henrik Lundqvist is coming off of his finest season with a career high 11 shutouts and career best .923 save percentage. Coach Tortarella did a good job early on of spelling King Henry with Martin Biron who is probably the Rangers most reliable backup since the days of Glenn Healy. However, a broken clavicle put the brakes on Biron and forced Tortarella to ride his best netminder a bit more than he might have wanted. However, the time off between the end of the regular season and start of the playoffs should be just enough to give Henry a good rest. He is the key to the Rangers playoff hopes. I expect King Henry to continue his great season with some great play between the pipes.

When all is said and done I think the Rangers are going to show their grit in this playoff series. The players that were here for the 3-1 come back in 2009 will remember how close they came and to see the very team that knocked you out in historic fashion will keep the Rangers blood up. Even though Alex Ovechkin will be suiting up against this Rangers team, I think the Rangers will be hungry considering how close they came in 2009 to advancing and how close they were to making the playoffs last year. John Tortarella has changed the Rangers philosophy and has this team playing hard on both ends of the ice. The core of this team is young and dynamic, perhaps one of the best young groups the Rangers have ever suited up. The top defensive pair of Marc Staal and Dan Girardi is as good as any in the league and are only 24 and 26 respectively. Dubinsky is only 24. Derek Stepan is 20. The oldest Ranger is only 36, and that is Vinny Prospal who is still productive. The Rangers are going to have a bunch of young, hungry players with a sprinkling of gritty vets to get the job done. It won't be easy, having to shut down Alexander the Great and get the puck past Michal Neuvirth. However, Mike Green, the Caps best defenseman is coming off a concussion and although he should be ready to go one has to wonder if there will be any rust on his skates since he hasn't skated since Feb. 25th, a 6-0 loss to the Rangers. If Green is slow to return to form the Caps will be in trouble and could find themselves in a hole quickly.

Overall, the Rangers will slip past the Caps. King Henry has been here and done this while Neuvirth has never gotten into an NHL playoff game. In the playoffs the play of your goalie can make or break a season more so than the regular season. The Rangers will win in 6.

Ready for the Next Step

I have given you my top ten Yankees prospects. Now I'm going to give you the pitchers and position players about ready to burst onto the prospect radar.

Tim Norton, RP. OK, so he is 28 years old which is old for a prospect. However, everywhere Norton has gone he has dominated. He is currently in his fifth minor league season and has been bitten by the injury bug. He began his minor league career as a starter but has taken to relief work like a moth to flame. He has a big frame, at 6'5" and 230 lbs, Norton creates a presence on the mound. He has a mid-90's fastball but can reach back for a little something extra when needed with a changeup and slider/splitter. Norton has whiffed 195 batters in 168.2 career innings while walking only 38 during the same span. So far in this young season he has pitched 1 inning and fanned all three batters he faced at AA Trenton. Because of his past injuries, the Yankees would like to see him stay healthy for an entire year but he could be called upon either this year or next to fill a void in the bullpen. I definitely see Norton contributing in the Bronx in the near future, possibly filling a David Robertson-type role. Right now he is at AA Trenton but will be in Scranton before the year is out, if not in the Bronx.

Slade Heathcott, OF. The Yankees 2009 first round draft pick came to the Yankees with a ton of promise but was considered very raw and a few teams questioned his maturity. Since joining the Yankees organization Heathcott has displayed maturity and a hard-nosed playing style both in the field and on the bases but has shown an excellent eye at the plate which is unusual for a player as young as Slade. Last season he was at Low A Charleston and at the age of 19 hit .258 with 2 home runs, 30 RBI, and 15 stolen bases in 25 attempts. He did strike out 101 times in only 298 at bats with 42 walks mixed in. Slade has a lot of work to do to reach elite prospect status but the tools are there, including a rocket arm and blazing speed. This year he is back at Charleston (and is off to a hot start already equaling his home run output from last season in 1 game and adding 2 doubles and a triple to go along with 6 RBI's...not bad for 3 games, eh?). The Yankees won't rush him, allowing him to hone his skills. However, a few years down the road and this kid could be the starting center fielder. Get ready to be thrilled if this kid puts it together.

J.R. Murphy, C/3B. The Yankees are stocked at catcher with Jesus Montero, Gary Sanchez, and Austin Romine all ranking among the Yankees top prospects so Murphy is being tried at several positions this year to give him playing time. Like Heathcott, he was taken in the 2009 draft as a second rounder and also like Heathcott he is back at Charleston after having played there last year. Last season at Charleston Murphy hit .255 with 7 homers and drove in 54 with 15 doubles and two triples. Murphy has a little speed for a catcher, having stolen 4 bags in 9 tries. Defensively he is not an elite type catcher and is extremely raw behind the plate. He did play a lot of outfield before being drafted so a switch back there could make it easier for him. Power wise Murphy is currently being predicted to grade out around 20 homers which might not be enough from a corner outfield position. Right now it seems like the Yankees are prepping him to be a super platoon player, able to play the outfield, both corner infield positions, and catcher. It will be interesting to see how his bat develops with all of these new positions being thrown at him but he could develop into an above average ballplayer at the big league level.

Mason Williams, OF. This guy can run. The son of former NFL wide receiver Derwin Williams, Mason has that "toolsy" label which means the talent is there it just has to be developed. About the only tool Williams doesn't have right now is power. He was the Yankees 4th round draft pick last season and only played in 5 games last season for the Gulf Coast League Yankees so there isn't much professional experience to draw upon but scouts ranked him as a first round talent but the Yankees were able to snatch him up in the 4th round due to the thought he would opt for college instead of signing. However, the Yankees enticed Williams with a little extra cash. Prior to the draft scouts compared him to a Doug Glanville type player which isn't a bad player to have on your roster. He could end up being a Brett Gardner/Greg Golson type player who uses his speed and defense to get on a big league roster. If he develops some power he could be a legit star. It will be a while before he gets to the Bronx.

Rob Segedin, 3B. Segedin entered last season's draft with a reputation as one of the better college hitters in the draft. He raked to the tune of .434/.518/.788 (AVG/OBP/SLG) at Tulane with 14 home runs. Injuries pushed him down on many draft boards and the Yankees grabbed him up in the 3rd round. He has suffered from back and shoulder injuries in the past and these could hinder his development if they persist. However, if he manages to stay healthy he could move up the ladder quickly due to his college experience. The Yankees will take their time with him unless he forces their hand by playing extremely well. Has drawn a lot of comparisons to Brandon Laird which is either a good thing or a bad thing.

Thomas Kahnle, RP. Kahnle is an interesting case. The Yankees nabbed him in the 5th round of the 2010 draft. He fell in their laps because of signability concerns because he was a draft eligible sophmore (like Segedin) and teams thought he would have higher salary demands but he signed with the Yankees for $150,000. Kahnle has been clocked up to 99 MPH but his fastball, his best pitch, usually sits around 94-96 MPH. He made his professional debut last year for Staten Island and quickly made an impression striking out 25 batters in only 16 innings and allowing only 1 run and three hits. Three hits! He did walk 5 batters which is a little high for only 16 innings but is understandable for a guy in his first pro year at 20 years old. If he develops a good secondary pitch to offset the speed of his fastball he could be the Yankees closer of the future. At the very least he should be an excellent middle reliever like Daniel Bard is now for the Red Sox. Kahnle could make his Yankees debut sooner rather than later if he can command the strike zone. Since he was a starter in college and is a reliever now innings shouldn't be a problem in his development. I wouldn't be surprised if he finds his way to AA or AAA this season and the Bronx next year.

Ramon Flores, OF. This kid, who is only 19, has an uncanny batting eye. In 3 professional seasons split between the Yankees Dominican Summer League team, Charleston, Tampa, and the GCL Yanks, he has only struck out 82 times in 515 plate appearances while managing 64 walks. He took some time to develop but broke out last season with the GCL Yankees, raking to the tun of .329/.436/.481 (AVG/OBP/SLG). He was only 18. Even more impressive was he walked more than he struck out, 28 BB's to 22 K's. I don't know if he will develop into a big power hitter since he is only 5'10" and 150 lbs. but the line drives should fly off his bat. He will be joining Slade Heathcott, JR Murphy, Rob Segedin, Thomas Kahnle, and Gary Sanchez at Charleston this year, making Charleston one of the more exciting Yankee affiliates this Summer. His knowledge of the strike zone and his ability to slap balls should make Flores a fast-tracker up the ladder. Not too fast but fast for a 19 year old hitter.

Any Yankee minor leaguer you want to know about leave a comment.

Manny Ramirez retires....good riddance

From the "Mad Hungarian" Al Hrabosky talking to baseballs to Bill "Spaceman" Lee talking about everything under the sun to anyone who would lesson, baseball's history has had no shortage of eccentric personalities. Manny Ramirez falls into this category. Manny Being Manny was coined to explain his bizarre behavior and general laziness in the field. Today, Manny Ramirez announced he was going to retire rather than serve out the 100 game suspension that was on its way from Major League Baseball after Manny failed his second drug test this Spring. Manny being Manny just couldn't stay away from banned substances it appears.

It's just as well Manny runs off into the sunset. Baseball doesn't need this kind of press again as it tries to move past the whole steroid and performance enhancing drug era. Manny being Manny just couldn't put the team before himself. He never has and now he never will. It's a shame Manny developed the way he did. He was a phenomenal ballplayer, one of the best I ever saw. However, the shine came off Manny's star when he was suspended in 2009 for using a banned substance, most likely hCG, a female fertility drug steroid users use to restart their testosterone after a steroid cycle. Then only a few months later Manny Ramirez was named by The New York Times as one of over 100 players who tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in 2003 during MLB's survey test. Now, this is basically a third strike and forces me to question the true source of Manny's baseball prowess. In my opinion Manny Ramirez is a detriment to baseball, a disgrace to every ballplayer who has managed to stay away from steroids and the like. Here is a guy who knew the consequences and still went ahead and allowed illegal substances into his body. I hope the baseball writers keep Manny away from the Hall of Fame.

While I am of the mindset that not all players who have admitted to using steroids should be barred from the Hall of Fame, I do believe Manny should not be considered. Certain players, like David Ortiz, Alex Rodriguez, and Andy Pettitte have had stellar careers that bear the mark of performance enhancing drug use. However, all have spoken freely and all have shown remorse for their actions, unlike Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Manny Ramirez. People make mistakes and should be given second chances. However, someone like Manny who flaunts the rules and shows no remorse for anything should be made to pay with the only thing we can take from him, his dignity in the world of baseball.

The World Is Not Ending

Of course it had to happen this way. The Red Sox start the season 0-6 and come home to open the 2011 season at Fenway Park against the Yankees. The stage was set for the Red Sox to shake off the demons of a horrid start by beating the Yankees. And that is exactly what they did, 9-6. Seriously, didn't we kind of expect this? Wasn't this inevitable? The Red Sox kicked off the 2011 season at home with a touching tribute to Lou Gorman followed by the National Anthem played by the Navy band and an F-16 flyover. It was all nicely done and I knew there was no way the Red Sox were going to lose this game. It was their home opener and the last six times the Yankees have opened in Fenway Park have all resulted in the same thing, a loss. Why should today have been any different? If the Red Sox weren't going to come to play today, against their arch rival, in front of their home crowd who have waited through a long winter for the return of baseball and their beloved Red Sox, and after all the pomp and circumstance then the dirt should have been thrown on their grave right then and there.

At first it looked like the Yankees were going to do just that, getting out to an early 2-1 lead. The Red Sox got one back after Mighty Mite Dustin Pedroia crushed a Phil Hughes pitch over the Green Monster. On a side note, I don't think I have ever seen someone so small swing so hard in my life. He reminded me of Bam Bam from the Flintstones swinging his club. Anyway, the Yankees got one back in the second to extend the lead to 3-1 but the Red Sox just wouldn't roll over and die. Not today. Ultimately they left the field with a 9-6 victory to earn their first win of the season.

However, this Red Sox juggernaut that everyone, including me, picked to win the World Series, definitely has its flaws. Most glaring is behind the plate. Jarrod Saltalamacchia is just awful. I find it hard to believe he was ever a top tier prospect. He seems overwhelmed back there and seemed to be stuck in quick sand. He made an errant throw on a Brett Gardner stolen base that was just baffling. He never seemed confident back there and it appears he is too timid to handle this Red Sox pitching staff. Dustin Pedroia took it upon himself to come in from second base to calm John Lackey down after Lackey had some issues with the home plate umpire. This is the catchers job. If he doesn't get his act together the Red Sox will have to find a replacement. The Red Sox pitching staff also looks like a possible Achilles heel. Lackey looked flustered and was not that good. Hardly the same pitcher that faced down the Yankees only a couple of years ago in the playoffs. If he doesn't get it together soon the Red Sox will suffer. Terry Francona named him the #2 starter and so far he is having trouble locating his stuff and then comes over the plate.

All in all, the Red Sox didn't play that well today. Phil Hughes was just that bad. Hughes has seen a significant decrease in velocity to start the year. His fastball, which was getting up around 94 MPH last season has flattened out around 89-90. He has since resorted to using his cutter most of the time. In fact, out of 47 pitches he used his cutter an astounding 30 times trying to get movement on a fastball that had no zip. It is still early for Phil and the velocity should return as his arm strength builds. Let's not forget he pitched 176.1 innings last season after only pitching 86 innings the year before. It could be some arm fatigue that has cost Hughes to get off to a slow start. I expect him to get his ship above water soon. If he doesn't the Yankees are going to be in a world of trouble. Either way, I wouldn't pull the kid from the rotation just yet, that would be a little premature after only 2 starts.

As soon as Hughes was pulled from the game the Red Sox offense stuttered a bit as Bartolo Colon was able to keep the Yankees in the game. He got the loss but pitched pretty well which is encouraging.

Don't jump off the Yankee bandwagon and don't jump on the Red Sox bandwagon yet. The Red Sox didn't really fix much of what has plagued them early this season. Overall they didn't pitch that well, didn't play stellar defense, and really managed to hit up Phil Hughes for 6 runs. A Little League team could have done the same thing with what Hughes was throwing out there today. I'd be willing to bet Ivan Nova puts the holes back in the Red Sox bats tomorrow once the thrill of playing Opening Day wears off.

The Infamous Pedro Beato and other Dirty Sports Names

***WARNING*** There WILL be suggestive language used in this blog.

Taking a page from some of the greatest and most pornographic names in baseball, Pedro Beato has taken the baton from such luminaries as Rusty Kuntz, Dick Pole, and the infamous Pete LaCock (these names are real and they all appear on baseball cards) to carry on the tradition of dirty sounding names in baseball. Pedro Beato is a relief pitcher for the New York Mets and made his major league debut on April 1, 2011. Beato was originally drafted in the 17th round by the Mets in 2005 but didn't sign. He was drafted again by the Orioles in 2006, this time in the first round. However, the Mets really wanted ol' Petey Beato and drafted him in the 2010 Rule 5 draft. I guess someone in the Mets front office really wanted Pedro Beato to be on the same team as R.A. Dickey, who is probably very thankful that his parents didn't name him Hugh or U.R.A.

With Pedro Beato now coming in out of the bullpen Mets announcers are going to have to try to keep themselves from teenage hijinx when he comes in to relieve Mr. R.A. Dickey. I can just imagine it now:

Mets announcer #1: "And here comes Pedro Beato out of the pen to relieve Dickey. Dickey wasn't that great tonight, not getting his balls to knuckle and so Terry Collins has to turn to Beato to hopefully get the job done."

Mets announcer #2:"Yeah, Keith, reminds me of my ex-wife. I often had to bring in my own Pedro Beato to get the job done because she couldn't get my Dickey's balls to knuckle either."

Mets announcer #1:"Ummm, can you say that on the air?"

Mets announcer #2:"Well, I hope so because I just did. Anyway, let's take at what kind of grip Beato uses on his fastball. I just have't seen a kid make his balls drop like that in a long time."

Mets announcer #1: "Well folks, this is probably our last broadcast."

Oh, the fun that could be had with this one. Only in sports would we be exposed (pun intended) to these great names. Here are some more dirty names throughout sports:

1. Misty Hyman. Misty was an Olympic swimmer in the Sydney games in 2000. Is there a better name for a female swimmer? I think not!

2. Lucious Pusey. Lucious was a middle linebacker at I-AA Eastern Illinois. He has since changed his name to Lucious Seymour. I do suppose it is better than changing his first name to Seymour. And for the announcers sake, thankfully he isn't a running back. The last thing they need to be saying is "Pusey takes it up the hole and scores!"

3. B.J. Johnson. Mr. Johnson was a wide receiver at the University of Texas, otherwise known as the Longhorns. Johnson was drafted by the Broncos and spent time with the Buccaneers. Johnson, if I recall correctly never played a real NFL game leaving his coaches to look back and say, "B.J. Johnson just sucked while he was on our team. We had to let him go, he just sucked."

4. Dick Cox. Mr. Cox, no relation to Mr. Johnson, played baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1925-26. He handled his bat pretty well and managed to hit .314 for his career. But he just had no lasting power in the big leagues.

5. Dick Trickle. No, you don't have to go to the doctor. Mr. Trickle was a race car driver back in the '70's and '80's. I can only imagine what it must have been like to be a driver back then and have your crew chief yell in your headset that "You got Dick Trickle coming up behind you!"

6. Dick Bumpas. Ol' Dickey Bumpas is an assistant at Texas Christian University. That's right, he coaches for the Horned Frogs. Dick Bumpas is a coach on the staff (pun intended) for the Horned Frogs. You can't make this stuff up.

7. Dickey Nutt. Coach Nutt is the head coach for Southeast Missouri State. Ahh, imagine the pride when a basketball recruit says he gonna go play for Dickey Nutt. All men play for that I thought.

8. B.J. Lovett. Don't we all? Lovett was a wide receiver at Michigan State back in 2001.

9. Wang Manli. Believe it or not this a female speed skater who won a silver medal in the 2006 Olympics. Last name first paperwork always led to confusion. Manli, Wang, sex: female. Poor Manli still doesn't possess a drivers license because the Chinese DMV thinks she is playing a game.

10. Dick Seaman. Dick Seaman was a pre-WWII grand prix driver. Mr. Dick Seaman met a tragic end as he crashed into a tree and died. His death was definitely premature. What's worse is he died because of wood!

Well, folks, my mind has left the gutter. Hope you got a good laugh outta this one. I did.

My Top 10 Yankees Prospects

By no means am I an expert but I figured I would rank my top 10 Yankees prospects anyway. Here goes:

1. Jesus Montero, C. Montero leads every list of Yankees prospects because he is that good. At least with the bat. Questions abound about his defense and whether or not he will be able to stay behind the plate. If he figures it out the Yankees could be looking at a real prize here. Starting 2011 in Scranton isn't the worst thing but it also says the Yankees aren't totally convinced here. He was once considered untouchable but he was dealt to Seattle for Cliff Lee before the Mariners reneged on the deal and sent Lee to Texas. I can see the Yankees trading him but think it would take a lot in return. Last year he hit .289 with 21 homers and drove in 75. Not bad considering the slow start he got off to last season. Oh, and he was only 20. Now old enough to drink an alcoholic beverage he should be putting on a display that will leave fans at PNC Field thinking they are the ones who have been drinking. Expected arrival in the Bronx: 2011

2. Manny Banuelos, LHP. A small sample size to draw from last year because he missed the beginning of the season because of an appendectomy. Now healthy, he received a looong look in Spring Training this year and performed well. He has a poise that you just can't teach on the mound. He mixes his pitches well and has excellent command of the strike zone. He is small, only 5'10" but his stuff plays much bigger as he can dial up to the mid 90's with his fastball. There is a lot to like here. He will start off at AA but if he dominates he could find himself toeing the hill in Scranton. I doubt he sees the Bronx this year but next year could be a different story. Potential ace here. Expected arrival in the Bronx: 2012

3. Gary Sanchez, C. Two catchers in the top three? Yep. In fact, Sanchez might even be a better player all around than Montero. Sanchez has an uncanny feel for the strike zone as a hitter and can just flat out mash. He will only be 19 but it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility to see him taste AA this year. There are questions about his defense but less than about Montero's. Expected arrival in the Bronx: 2013.

4. Dellin Betances, RHP. Health has been an issue for the 6'8" Brooklyn native but the potential is there. He needs to command the strike zone a little better but his stuff is nasty, striking out 88 hitters at A Tampa in only 71 innings. He will start the year at AA Trenton where he struck out 20 in 14.1 innings. If he can stay healthy he might be the best pitching prospect in the system. My only question is does his stuff translate to closer-type stuff or can he be a top of the rotation starter? Expected arrival in the Bronx: 2012.

5. Andrew Brackman, RHP. This kid stands 6'10" tall and might as wel be standing on a mountain rather than a pitching mound. His stuff is still coming together after missing over a year due to Tommy John surgery. It took him a couple of years to put it together and last year he began to do just that. He cut his walk rate by over half and struck out around 8 per 9. He has to continue to clean up his delivery but he could eventually stand tall as an ace of a staff in the Bronx. Or, he could become a dominant closer. Personally, I think he is more valuable as a starter and should be on the bump for the Yankees for years to come. He could get the call up to the big league club this year but will start at AAA. Expected arrival in the Bronx: 2011

6. Hector Noesi, RHP. Noesi's command of the strike zone is off the charts. He averaged less than 2 walks per nine and owns a K/BB rate of over 5! To me he rates as an excellent set-up man and could see his major league debut come this season. Until then he will hone his craft at AAA but the Yankees can't ignore this kid for much longer.

7. Ivan Nova, RHP. We have already seen what he can do in the Bronx last year. Great the first two times through a lineup and horrbile in the third go around. Nova is a finesse pitcher that depends on his change-up and location. He will start the year as the Yankees #4 starter after a lights out Spring Training and should adapt to hitters as they have been adapting to him. He projects as a back of the rotation type, exactly where he is now. The Yankees could do a lot worse. Nova could be a mainstay in the Bronx for years to come. Expected arrival in the Bronx: Already there.

8. Adam Warren, RHP. Warren, like Banuelos, saw an increase in velocity and has impeccable command. It is hard to gauge where he projects but a back of the rotation type starter and innings eater is the worst it can get for this guy. He did have a 15 K game at Trenton last year and will probably start the year there again but will be in Scranton by June. If injuries ravish the Yankees they could give Warren a shot. He also doesn't surrender home runs, owning a 0.2 HR/9 rate last year which speaks volumes. Expected arrival in the Bronx: 2011.

9. Brandon Laird, 3B. Has power to spare. Unfortunately he doesn't do much else that well. His defense doesn't stand out at any position and his contact rate dropped big time after his promotion to AAA but he was the Eastern League MVP at AA after hitting .291 with 23 homers and 90 RBI. The Yankees might try him in left field or if A-Rod gets hurt he could be called up to man third base in a pinch. If he can adapt to AAA pitching and continue to progress the Yankees might have a decent bat. If not he could find himself trade bait. Expected arrival in the Bronx: Cup of coffee in 2011.

10. Austin Romine, C. The third catcher on this list. Romine's defense is world's above Montero's and Sanchez's but is not exactly stellar. He probably will stay behind the plate if for no other reason his offense at catcher rates better than anywhere else on the field. Romine will start the year at AA but could see a promotion to AAA. He won't be an all-star at the major league level but he will surely be a solid starting catcher for years to come. Expected arrival in the Bronx: 2013.

Honorable mentions in no particular order: Graham Stoneburner, RHP. Slade Heathcott, OF. Cito Culver, SS. David Phelps, RHP. David Adams, 2B. J.R. Murphy, C. Brett Marhsall, RHP. Eduardo Nunez, SS.

Well, that's my list. Have your own? Share it in the comments. Don't like one of my picks? Let me know. Did I miss someone? Let me know.

Baseball is Back, and so am I

After a long hiatus I have decided to get back into my blogging and what better day to do it than Opening Day of the 2011 season? So without further adieu, here are my 2011 baseball predictions:

1. The Philadelphia Phillies will not win the NL East. I know, it sounds crazy given their sick rotation of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels, and Joe Blanton. However, with Chase Utley being sidelined for an unknown amount of time with knee issues the Phillies offense has taken a huge hit. Yes, they still have Ryan Howard but the guy has more holes in his swing than Rob Deer. Ok, so he isn't that bad but he struck out like 500 times last year and with Utley not hitting in front of him and an elderly Raul Ibanez hitting behind him I am not scared of the Philly lineup. I'm picking the Braves.

The Braves have some good young arms to go with some sturdy vets and a lineup that is young and exciting. Adding Dan Uggla at second was a huge boost for a Braves offense and should give them some pop as Jason Heyward and rookie first baseman Freddie Freeman continue to develop into future all-stars. The Braves could really surprise this year. No they don't have a dynamic rotation but they do have a better all around and younger team than the Phillies and as a season takes its toll the younger guys down in ATL should squeeze out a surprise NL East crown.

2. Curtis Granderson will show Yankees fans why Brian Cashman traded for him prior to last season. Granderson showed flashes late last year after working on his swing with Kevin Long by hitting 14 home runs after coming back from injury. I should expect him to get a few more green llights this year on the base paths this year and wouldn't be surprised to see him hit the 30-30 mark and flirt with 40-40.

3. Adrian Gonzalez will hit 45-50 homers. Green Monster meet Adrian Gonzalez. Need I say more?

4. The Chicago White Sox will take the AL Central crown away from the Twins. The Twins have a lot of question marks and Carl Pavano is their ace, although Francisco Liriano can take that title away any given day, if healthy. Too many Twins are coming back from injury though. Justin Morneau, Joe Nathan, and Joe Mauer all got bitten by the injury bug last season. Nathan will take a while to come all the way back from Tommy John surgery and Morneau's concussion symptoms make me wary about this team. There is just too much to overcome for me here. The White Sox on the other hand have some good young arms in Chris Sale and John Danks to go along with solid veterans Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd, and Edwin Jackson. Their offense is also very dangerous. This is what happens when you add 40 homer threat Adam Dunn to a lineup that already has Carlos Quentin (coming off a down year but still dangerous), Alex Rios (found new life after escaping Toronto), and Paul Konerko who is still putting up MVP caliber numbers at 35. Throw in a possible return to form from former Cy Young winner Jake Peavy and you have all the ingredients for a surprise season. Of course, if Peavy can't stay healthy that puts a huge dent in the White Sox's chances but they should be there in the end.

5. The Mets will lose 95 games. Or more. There is nothing to really like about this team. Too many questions, too many financial restrictions, too many injuries. Jason Bay still suffers from the concussion he suffered last year. Johan Santana is out for at least a couple of months if not longer. Jose Reyes might be the lone bright spot as he is playing for a big contract this offseason. But still, Reyes only played in 133 games last year and 36 games in 2009. Too many things to overcome. Not enough pitching, not enough hitting, too many injuries. However, with the new Mets front office I see a brighter future ahead. It will just be a while before that future gets to Flushing.

6. Mark Prior will make an impact on the Yankees. Once considered the top pitching prospect in the game, Prior was abused early on his career by Dusty Baker who also ruined the career of Kerry Wood. Prior, who hasn't pitched in the bigs since 2006, will start the year at AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. However, Prior could get a call up to the Bronx to step into a bullpen spot once he proves he is healthy. Expect him to stay healthy and get his career back on track.

7. The San Francisco Giants will not repeat as champs. In fact, they will miss the playoffs altogether this year. Miguel Tejada is their shortstop. Tejada was known for his bat, and now that is starting to show signs of his age. Too many innings last season for Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain will start to tell as fatigue finally catches up to them. Even if they do stay healthy and show no signs of throwing all the innings last year, the Giants offense just doesn't wow me. Aubrey Huff was their leading hitter last season and now he is just blocking Brandon Belt from assuming first base. The Giants have one of the brightest futures in the game but the World Series hangover will tell. Instead, the Rockies will be the surprise this year in the NL West. Ubaldo Jimenez, Carlos Gonzalez, and Troy Tulowitzki will lead the Rockies to the playoffs once again.

8. Austin Jackson will hit .300 and strike out 180 times. The guy swings at pitches from pitchers warming up in the bullpen, he just has no concept of the strike zone.

9. Jesus Montero will be the centerpiece of a blockbuster deal that nets the Yankees an ace starting pitcher. Ryan Dempster could be available, so could Josh Johnson.

10. The Red Sox will defeat the Reds in the World Series. The Yankees will lose in the ALCS, and the Mets will have a fire sale at the trade deadline.

11. Derek Jeter will hit .309 and Ichiro will fail to reach 200 hits for the first time in his career, falling one hit short.

So there you have it, my wild predictions for the 2011 season. Agree? Disagree? Leave a comment.